Tallying devices

ABSTRACT

A tally board with tally indicators manually movable along scales of graduations on its face for tallying variable values is specified.

United States Patent IIO llllHlLlLlJJllllllllllrll Giles 1 51 July 18, 1972 [54] TALLYING DEVICES 791,903 6/1905 Hawkins ..116/135 1,340,216 5/1920 Diepenbr0ck.. ..116/135 UX Inventor: Walter Giles; 2631 lmksley Place, 1,717,048 6/1929 Livingston ..116/135 Los Angeles, Calif. 90039 2,480,614 8/1949 Spargo ..l16/l35 3,046,932 7/1962 Rodrigue. .116/ 135 [22] 1970 3,166,042 l/1965 1-1i11 ..116/135 [21] Appl. No.: 17,532

Primary ExaminerLouis J. Capozi [52] U.S.C| ..116/135, 35/75,40/64 57 TR! [51] Int. Cl. ..G09f9/00 1 CT [58] Field of Search ..116/ 114, 135, 130, 131; 40/64, A tally board with tally indicators manually movable along 40/65; 3 5/75 76 scales of graduations on its face for tallying variable values is specified.

[56] References Cited 1 Claim, 4 Drawing m UNITED STATES PATENTS 132,553 10/1872 Wormald ..116/135 UX Patented July 18, 1972 12 45e7e xo lsmlmemauaz FIG.

TALLYING DEVICES Basic elements of the device comprise a rectangular tallying board having a plurality of parallel grooves in its outer face. with a scale of graduations adjacent one side of each groove, a plurality of markers or tally indicators colored contrastingly with, or otherwise distinguishable from, the face of the board and slidably or otherwise positionable in the grooves to indicate particular values on the scales of graduations to which they are adjacent. In one form of the device two such tally boards may be hinged together on congruent edges to form a unit. In open position the two boards are combined as a unit; in closed position, when revolved upon their hinge to lie with faces parallel in contact, the two boards constitute an enclosing case for the combination.

A preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device in open position ready for use;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line indicated by 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational end view of the device in closed position; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section along the line indicated by 3-3 in FIG. 1 showing a tallying marker inserted in a groove.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 in FIG. 1 indicates the unitary combination of tally boards 1 and 2, joined by the hinges 3, with grooves 4 in the outer faces of the boards in which are slidably disposed the tallying markers 5. Ledges 8 are extended throughout the length of the grooves from each side of the groove openings, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, for a purpose to be shown later. Hinging of the tally boards 1 and 2 may be by conventional hinges or by the application of thin flexible strips to the surfaces of the boards along their line of junction as some book and pad covers are bound. Each of the tally boards is bound at its edges by a wall 6 which rises in a low curb above the contiguous board surfaces. A graduated scale 7 is positioned at one edge of each groove 4. If desired, both edges of the grooves may be graduated for alternative tallying purposes or if the direction of tallying should need to be reversed. Preferably, the face areas 9 of the tally boards 1 and 2 into which the scale graduations do not extend, and in the groove segments of which the markers may be disposed without indication of tallying. are colored contrastingly with the rest of the face areas to sharply indicate termination of the tallying section ofthe scales 7.

The tallying markers 5, FIG. 1, one of which is illustrated sectionally and enlarged in the view of FIG. 4, are V- or U- shaped channel constructions of thin resilient material. preferably sheet metal or plastic. A channel wall of each marker is outwardly flanged, with the other wall shortened so as to be retainable at its edge by a ledge 8 of the groove in which it is disposed. ln fabrication of the markers 5, and prior to their use, channel walls are sprung apart to provide reactive pressure upon relief from compression.

In accordance with the aims of the invention and using the device of the form described in the foregoing. each scale of graduations 7 may be designated to represent a certain variable, as for example the quantity of some article or product "on hand or sold." Descriptive legends may be written or printed in the spaces between the grooves 4, or on the visible flanges of the markers 5 as shown in the captioned example SOLD in FIG. 1.

Whenever a particular quantity or value is to be tallied on a scale of graduations 7 and a marker 5 is inserted in a groove 4, the markers end edge in the direction of scale ascendancy will indicate the graduation intended to be designated on the adjacent scale. After insertion, the marker 5 will be retained firmly in position both by the reactive pressure of the resilient channel walls against the sides of the groove and by the hold of one channel edge against the underside of a ledge 8 as shown in FIG. 4. As the value or quantity to be indicated on the scale changes from time to time, the marker 5 may be moved along its groove to a new point of indication lt will be noted that smce the markers may readily be positioned at any point between graduations, intermediate or fractional values can be indicated with facility. This constitutes an advantage over tallying devices in which fractional indication is limited for example to the number of holes in a tally board in which marker pegs may be inserted.

What is claimed:

1. In a tallying device of the type having as a major component a rectangular board with a plurality of parallel grooves incised in a plane face thereof and with a scale graduated parallel to and adjacent an edge of each groove, markers slidably positionable in the grooves for indicating varying quantities by reference to the scales, each of the said markers being a V-channel construction of resilient material, with one wall of each channel outwardly flanged and the other wall shortened so as to be retainable at its edge by a constricting ledge of an aforesaid groove when the marker is inserted therein, and each of the markers being compressibly insertable in a said groove and fixable therein by reactive pressure of the resilient channel walls against the groove sides, a free end portion of one leg of said marker being bent to overly its respective scale. 

1. In a tallying device of the type having as a major component a rectangular board with a plurality of parallel grooves incised in a plane face thereof and with a scale graduated parallel to and adjacent an edge of each groove, markers slidably positionable in the grooves for indicating varying quantities by reference to the scales, each of the said markers being a Vchannel construction of resilient material, with one wall of each channel outwardly flanged and the other wall shortened so as to be retainable at its edge by a constricting ledge of an aforesaid groove when the marker is inserted therein, and each of the markers being compressibly insertable in a said groove and fixable therein by reactive pressure of the resilient channel walls against the groove sides, a free end portion of one leg of said marker being bent to overly its respective scale. 